SnapPhonics

son

SUHN/ˈsʌn/noun
  1. nounA boy or man who is someone's child.

  2. nounA boy or man who has been adopted and is treated as someone's child.

  3. nounA boy or man with a very close relationship to an older person, who feels like their child.

  4. nounOne of the three persons of the Trinity in Christian belief, who became Jesus Christ.

  5. nounA friendly way an older person speaks to a younger male person.

  6. nounA style of music and dance from Cuba that mixes Spanish and African sounds.

Save to your word list — create a free account

Syllables

son

1 syllable

Letters

Word forms:

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

s

Phonics Rule: Letter S

The letter S usually makes the /s/ sound, like in 'sun', 'sit', and 'sock'. Air hisses through a small gap.

S is a voiceless alveolar fricative when it makes the /s/ sound. At the end of many words it can also make a /z/ sound (as in 'dogs' or 'has'). At the start of a word it is always /s/.

Tip

S hisses like a snake — sssssun!

Examples

o

Phonics Rule: O says /ʌ/

O sometimes says the /ʌ/ sound (like short U), like in 'son', 'love', and 'month'.

In a set of common words, O says /ʌ/ instead of short /ɒ/: son, won, month, mother, brother, love, glove, dove, dozen, oven, money, honey.

Tip

O can say uh — son, love, month!

Examples

n

Phonics Rule: Letter N

The letter N makes the /n/ sound, like in 'net', 'nap', and 'nut'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.

N is a voiced alveolar nasal — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while voice hums through the nose. It is one of the most common consonants in English.

Tip

N hums through the nose — say /n/ and feel the buzz!

Examples

What is SnapPhonics?

A phonics reference for teachers, parents and learners. Every English word, broken into the sounds that make it — with audio, syllables, and the rule behind each spelling.

Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.